She Treads Softly: The Waitress

Monday, March 23, 2026

The Waitress

The Waitress Book Cover

The Waitress by K L Slater
4/17/26; 298 pages
Bookouture

The Waitress by K L Slater is a recommended popcorn thriller that require readers to suspend a massive amount of disbelief.

Alicia has left her young son in the care of her sister Jen and moved to London ostensibly to make enough for them all to start a new life for themselves. In London she begins working as a waitress for Elevate, an events planning/catering group. Her real job is to keep her eyes open and watch Trent Connors. Events at a reception at The Orbit, an exclusive high rise for the elite, result in her meeting Trent and quickly becoming close to him - so close that he offers to hire her to play the role of his girlfriend for a large salary. Trent really wants her to observe, listen, and evaluate a business associate of his, Steve Brett, the same man who has been blackmailing and threatening Alicia and wanted her to watch Trent. Let the games begin.

With short chapters and a predictable narrative direction, this story of blackmail and corruption is a quick read but it isn't quite as compelling or have the depth and believably of the other novels by Slater that I've read. It is told through multiple points-of-view, although mainly through Alicia's. This is also a tale of all the characters repeatedly making questionable decisions, however, Alicia's desire to make a better life for her son and sister is understandable.

Certainly you have to begin setting the disbelief aside right away when Alicia is almost immediately hired to be Trent's girlfriend at a high salary and new wardrobe. Hint: if something is too good to be true, it is. Another hint: if something is too good to be true, look for ulterior motives. Chapters through Jen's point-of-view have her back with an abusive boyfriend, another life lesson ignored by these characters. Speaking of the characters, Alicia is a developed character, but along with the other characters not particularly likable or reliable.

The Waitress will be best appreciated by fans of Slater's novels and those who enjoy popcorn thrillers. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

No comments:

Post a Comment

John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.